Strip-pack apparatus

ABSTRACT

A strip-pack apparatus is positioned between an upstream mechanism and a downstream mechanism and adapted to process products and to manufacture a strip pack. The strip-pack apparatus includes a moving mechanism, an affixing mechanism, an operating mode selecting unit and a control unit. The moving mechanism is configured and arranged to selectively move the products to an affixing position or the downstream mechanism. The operating mode selecting unit is configured and arranged to receive a selection input for an operating mode between a strip pack manufacturing mode in which the moving mechanism moves the products to the affixing position and a product passing mode in which the moving mechanism moves the products to the downstream mechanism without moving the products to the affixing position. The control unit is configured to control operations of the moving mechanism and the affixing mechanism according to the operating mode that has been selected.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a strip-pack apparatus thatmanufactures a strip pack where plural products are affixed to a stripand displayed in a hanging state, and the present invention belongs tothe technical field of strip packs.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, displays called strip packs have been known where pluralproducts having contents such as a snack food enclosed in packaging bagsare affixed to and hung from a strip. These strip packs have theadvantage that they can economize display space and diversify design andthey heighten a customer's desire to buy. Additionally, as strip-packapparatus that manufactures such strip packs, there are the strip-packapparatus disclosed in patent document 1 and patent document 2, forexample.

Patent Document 1: JP-A No. 2004-182302

Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,895

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

The strip-pack apparatus is disposed directly under or in the vicinityof a transverse sealing apparatus in a bag making and packaging machineand has a configuration that moves products that have been supplied fromthe bag making and packaging machine to an affixing position where theproducts are affixed to the strip. For that reason, when the productsthat have been supplied are to be cartoned as they are without beingformed into a strip pack, it is necessary to remove this strip-packapparatus and install a cartoning machine instead of the strip-packapparatus. Consequently, there has been the problem that the strip-packapparatus cannot easily accommodate a change in production planning thatcalls for a layout change of apparatus elements.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a strip-packapparatus that has excellent versatility and is capable of appropriatelyswitching between forming and not forming products that have beensupplied from an upstream side into a strip pack depending oncircumstances on a downstream side while ensuring the manufacture of astrip pack where plural products are affixed to a strip.

Solution to the Problem

In order to achieve this object, the present invention is configured asfollows.

A strip-pack apparatus according to a first aspect of the presentinvention comprises moving means, affixing means, operating modeselecting means and control means, is positioned between an upstreammechanism and a downstream mechanism that process products, andmanufactures a strip pack where a plurality of the products are affixedto a strip. The moving means selectively moves the products that havebeen supplied from the upstream mechanism to an affixing position or thedownstream mechanism. The affixing means affixes the products to a stripin the affixing position. The operating mode selecting means receives aselection between a strip pack manufacturing mode and a product passingmode. The strip pack manufacturing mode is an operating mode that causesthe moving means to move the products to the affixing position. Theproduct passing mode is an operating mode that causes the moving meansto move the products to the downstream mechanism without moving theproducts to the affixing position. The control means controls thedriving of the moving means and the affixing means depending on theoperating mode that has been selected via the operating mode selectingmeans.

A strip-pack apparatus according to a second aspect of the presentinvention is the strip-pack apparatus according to the first aspect ofthe present invention, wherein the moving means includes conveying meansand gripping means. The conveying means conveys the products that havebeen supplied from the upstream mechanism to a gripping position. Thegripping means grips the products in the gripping position and moves theproducts to the affixing position.

A strip-pack apparatus according to a third aspect of the presentinvention is the strip-pack apparatus according to the first aspect ofthe present invention, wherein the moving means includes first conveyingmeans, second conveying means and third conveying means. The firstconveying means conveys the products that have been supplied from theupstream mechanism to a branching position. The second conveying meansconveys the products from the branching position toward the affixingposition. The third conveying means conveys the products from thebranching position toward the downstream mechanism. The control meanscontrols the driving of the first conveying means, the second conveyingmeans and the third conveying means such that, when the product passingmode has been selected via the operating mode selecting means, theproducts are moved to the downstream mechanism without being moved tothe affixing position.

It will be noted that the first conveying means and the second conveyingmeans may be integrally formed, the first conveying means and the thirdconveying means may be integrally formed, the second conveying means andthe third conveying means may be integrally formed, or the firstconveying means, the second conveying means and the third conveyingmeans may be integrally formed.

A strip-pack apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the presentinvention is the strip-pack apparatus according to the third aspect ofthe present invention, wherein the third conveying means is detachablyor movably connected to the first conveying means in the branchingposition.

A strip-pack apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the presentinvention is the strip-pack apparatus according to the first aspect ofthe present invention, wherein the moving means includes conveying meansthat is capable of conveying the products selectively in a firstdirection or a second direction different from the first direction. Thecontrol means causes the conveying means to move the products toward theaffixing position by driving the conveying means in the first directionwhen the strip pack manufacturing mode has been selected via theoperating mode selecting means and causes the conveying means to movethe products toward the downstream mechanism by driving the conveyingmeans in the second direction when the product passing mode has beenselected via the operating mode selecting means.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the strippack manufacturing mode is selected by the operating mode selectingmeans, the driving of the moving means and the affixing means iscontrolled by the control means, and the primary operation of thestrip-pack apparatus, that is, operation to affix the plural products tothe strip, is executed. In other words, the products that have beensupplied from upstream are moved to the affixing position and the strippack is efficiently manufactured. On the other hand, when the productpassing mode is selected, the products that have been supplied fromupstream are delivered as they are downstream, where, for example, acartoning machine is disposed, without being moved to the affixingposition. In this manner, there is realized a strip-pack apparatus thathas excellent versatility and is capable of appropriately switchingbetween forming and not forming a strip pack depending on circumstanceson the downstream side.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the thirdconveying means is detachably or movably disposed consecutively with thedownstream side of the first conveying means. Consequently, when theproduct passing mode has been selected, the third conveying means iskept in the state where it is disposed consecutively with the downstreamside of the first conveying means, so that the products that have beensupplied from the upstream mechanism are capable of being carriedreliably to the downstream mechanism without being supplied to theaffixing position. Additionally, when the strip pack manufacturing modeis selected as the operating mode, it suffices to remove this auxiliaryconveying means.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the conveyancedirection of the conveying means included in the moving means is capableof being switched between a direction (first direction) where theconveying means is capable of supplying the products toward the affixingposition and a direction (second direction) where the conveying means iscapable of carrying the products toward the downstream mechanism withoutsupplying the products toward the affixing position. Consequently, bycontrolling the conveyance direction of the conveying means, it becomespossible to easily switch between the strip pack manufacturing mode andthe product passing mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a manufacturing system according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a strip-pack apparatus.

FIG. 3( a) is a front view of a strip pack and FIG. 3( b) is a side viewof the strip pack.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a manufacturing system according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a strip-pack apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1, 100 Strip-pack apparatus-   3 Supply Conveyor (Moving Means)-   3 c Auxiliary Conveyor (Moving Means)-   4 Introduction Conveyor (Moving Means)-   5 Drop Conveyor (Moving Means)-   8 Gripping Unit (Gripping Means)-   9 Affixing Unit (Affixing Means)-   20 Control Unit (Control Means)-   30 Operating Mode Selection Switch (Operation Mode Selecting Means)-   C Cartoning Machine (Downstream Mechanism)-   SP Strip Pack-   T Tape (Strip)-   X Bag (Product)

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Below, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

The system shown in FIG. 1 represents an overview of a manufacturingsystem A1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Inthis system A1, a combination weighing device W, a bag making andpackaging machine P, a strip-pack apparatus 1 and a cartoning machine Care disposed in order from an upstream side. As described in detailbelow, the strip-pack apparatus 1 is configured to manufacture a strippack SP or to allow products X to pass therethrough as they are withoutmanufacturing the strip pack SP depending on apparatus disposed on adownstream side.

The combination weighing device W respectively weighs the weights ofgoods that have been placed in plural measuring hoppers, performscombination calculation on the basis of these weighing values, selects acombination of weighing values that become the closest weight to atarget value within a predetermined weight range, and discharges thegoods from only the measuring hoppers corresponding to that selectedcombination to thereby obtain a set of goods with the target weight.Further, the bag making and packaging machine P forms a soft packagingmaterial such as a plastic film into a tubular form, places the goodstherein and simultaneously heat-seals the top and bottom of that tubularobject to thereby package, as contents, the goods that are dischargedfrom the combination weighing device W. Additionally, the cartoningmachine C packs the products X that have been manufactured by thecombination weighing device W and the bag making and packaging machine Pinto cardboard boxes, and an apparatus with an appropriate configurationis applicable.

A strip-pack apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is an example of the strip-packapparatus 1. This strip-pack apparatus 1 affixes the plural products Xto a tape to manufacture the strip pack SP and includes a body unit 2, asupply conveyor 3 to which the products X are supplied from an upstreamapparatus, an introduction conveyor 4 that introduces, to the inside ofthe apparatus 1, the products X that have been supplied by this supplyconveyor 3, a drop conveyor 5 that is positioned on a terminal endportion of this introduction conveyor 4, a discharge conveyor 6 thatdischarges, to a downstream apparatus, the strip pack SP that has beenmanufactured by the apparatus 1, a brush unit 7 for smoothing outwrinkles in end portions of the products X that have been introduced tothe inside of the apparatus 1, a gripping unit 8 for gripping the endportions of the products X, an affixing unit 9 for affixing the productsX at the end portions to the tape, and a tape feeding unit 10 forfeeding the tape synchronously with the affixing operation by theaffixing unit 9. Here, a roll 11 of the tape is disposed in the upperportion of the body unit 2. It will be noted that the apparatus 1 has aconfiguration that is independent from upstream apparatus and downstreamapparatus and has high versatility.

Further, a metal detector 3 a is supported on the body unit 2 and isannexed to the supply conveyor 3 so as to surround a conveyance path ofthe products X. This metal detector 3 a detects metal foreign bodiesthat are mixed inside packaging bags Y of the products X when theproducts X pass through a magnetic field. Additionally, an air nozzle 3b for spraying air and removing the products X being conveyed from theconveyance path is annexed to one side in the vicinity of the downstreamend of the supply conveyor 3. Moreover, an auxiliary conveyor 3 c thatserves as auxiliary conveying means that conveys the products X in thedirection of arrow D1 is configured to extend the downstream end portionof the supply conveyor 3 and is detachably disposed consecutively withthe body unit 2. And a receiving conveyor that supplies the products Xto the cartoning machine C is installed consecutively with thedownstream side of this auxiliary conveyor 3 c. It will be noted that,in the example in the drawing, the receiving conveyor configures part ofthis cartoning machine C.

As shown in FIG. 3, the strip pack SP that is manufactured by thestrip-pack apparatus 1 is one where a plurality (in the example in thedrawing, three) of the products X, in which a snack food is enclosed ascontents in the packaging bags Y made of a plastic film, are affixed inan aligned state to an elongate tape T at seal portions Z on the topsides of the products X. A punch hole t1 for fastening and displayingthe strip pack SP in a hanging state is formed in one end of the tape T.

Next, a control system of this strip-pack apparatus 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the strip-pack apparatus 1 is equipped with acontrol unit 20 that controls the entire apparatus, and this controlunit 20 outputs control signals to the supply conveyor 3, the auxiliaryconveyor 3 c, the introduction conveyor 4, the drop conveyor 5, thedischarge conveyor 6, the brush unit 7, the gripping unit 8, theaffixing unit 9 and the tape feeding unit 10. Further, this control unit20 is connected to an operating mode selection switch 30 and controlsthe driving of each of the conveyors 3 to 6 and 3 c and each of theunits 7 to 10 such that they operate in the operating mode that has beenselected by the operating mode selection switch 30. Included in theoperating modes are a strip pack manufacturing mode that serves thefunction of manufacturing the strip pack, which is the primary functionof the strip-pack apparatus 1, and a product passing mode that allowsthe products X that have been supplied from the bag making and packagingmachine P on the upstream side to pass through as they are to thecartoning machine C on the downstream side without conveying thoseproducts X to a gripping position.

Further, the control unit 20 receives a detection signal from the metaldetector 3 a and determines whether the products X are normal productsor abnormal products on the basis of this detection signal.Additionally, when one of the products X is an abnormal product, thecontrol unit 20 actuates and controls the air nozzle 3 b such that theair nozzle 3 b removes that product X to the side of the conveyancepath.

Next, an example of the operation of the strip-pack apparatus 1 will bedescribed.

First, when the manufactured products X are to be formed into the strippack SP, an operator flips up the upstream end side of the auxiliaryconveyor 3 c or removes the entire auxiliary conveyor 3 c from the bodyunit 2 and selects the strip pack manufacturing mode with the operatingmode selection switch 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, theproducts X that have been manufactured by the combination weighingdevice W and the bag making and packaging machine P on the upstream sideand have been carried into the strip-pack apparatus 1 undergo inspectionby the metal detector 3 a while being conveyed in the direction of arrowD1 by the supply conveyor 3 above. When it is determined that theproducts X are normal products, the products X are conveyed as they arein the direction of arrow D1, and when it is determined that theproducts X are abnormal products, the air nozzle 3 b is actuated and theproducts X are removed to the side of the conveyance path.

Next, wrinkles in the end portions, that is, the seal portions, of theproducts X that have been determined to be normal products, have droppedfrom the supply conveyor 3 onto the introduction conveyor 4 below andhave been conveyed to the gripping position in the direction of arrow D2by the introduction conveyor 4 and the drop conveyor 5 are smoothed outby the brush unit 7, and the products X are moved diagonally downward ofthe front side in the conveyance direction D2 in a state where the endportions are gripped by the gripping unit 8. At this time, the dropconveyor 5 slants such that its front side in the conveyance directionD2 becomes lower.

Then, the plural products X are affixed by the affixing unit 9 in anaffixing position to the tape T that has been let out by the tapefeeding unit 10 from the tape roll 11 supported on the body unit 2 andfed to the affixing position, whereby the strip pack SP is manufactured.The strip pack SP that has been manufactured is delivered to thedischarge conveyor 6 while sliding down on a slanted receiver 13 and isconveyed by this conveyor 6 in the direction of arrow D3.

On the other hand, when the manufactured products X are to be cartoned,the operator selects the product passing mode with the operating modeselection switch 30 and attaches the auxiliary conveyor 3 c to the bodyunit 2. Thus, the products X that are conveyed by the supply conveyor 3are delivered as they are to the auxiliary conveyor 3 c and are conveyedin the downstream direction. Additionally, the control unit 20 performscontrol so as to stop the driving of all of the conveyors 4 to 6 and theunits 7 to 10. Consequently, when the products X that have been suppliedfrom the upstream side are determined to be normal products by the metaldetector 3 a, the products X are conveyed in the direction of arrow D1and are delivered as they are, without being formed into the strip packSP, from the supply conveyor 3 and the auxiliary conveyor 3 c to thecartoning machine C on the downstream side. Additionally, when theproducts X are determined to be abnormal products, the air nozzle 3 b isactuated and the products X are removed to the side of the conveyancepath.

Further, when inspection by the metal detector 3 a is stopped and theair nozzle 3 b is not actuated, the strip-pack apparatus 1 can be madeto function as simple conveying means that delivers the products X thathave been supplied from the bag making and packaging machine P on theupstream side to the cartoning machine C on the downstream side.

That is, the course of the products X in the strip-pack apparatus 1branches at the downstream end of the supply conveyor 3. When the strippack manufacturing mode is selected, the products X are conveyed by theconveyors 4 and 5 toward the affixing position where the affixingoperation by the affixing unit 9 is performed, and when the productpassing mode is selected, the products X are conveyed by the conveyor 3c toward the cartoning machine C.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. It will be noted that, inorder to simplify description, the same reference signs will be added tocomponents that are the same as or similar to components that have beenmentioned above, and description of those same or similar componentswill be omitted.

A manufacturing system shown in FIG. 5 is a manufacturing system A2according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In thissystem A2, the combination weighing device W, the bag making andpackaging machine P, a strip-pack apparatus 100 and the cartoningmachine C are disposed in order from an upstream side. The strip-packapparatus 100 is, like the strip-pack apparatus 1 in the firstembodiment, configured to be capable of selecting whether or not tomanufacture the strip pack SP depending on apparatus disposed on adownstream side.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the strip-pack apparatus 100, the metal detector3 a and the air nozzle 3 b are annexed to the supply conveyor 3, butextension by the auxiliary conveyor 3 c is omitted. Further, theintroduction conveyor 4 has a structure where a belt is wrapped aroundrollers that are capable of forward and reverse rotation, and theconveyance direction thereof is configured to be switchable by thecontrol unit 20. That is, the introduction conveyor 4 can convey theproducts X in the direction of arrow D2 and in the opposite direction ofarrow D4. The cartoning machine C is disposed consecutively with the endportion of this introduction conveyor 4 on the opposite side of the dropconveyor 5. It will be noted that other configurations are the same asthe configurations of the strip-pack apparatus 1 in the firstembodiment, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the strip-pack apparatus 100 is equipped with thecontrol unit 20 that controls the entire apparatus, and this controlunit 20 outputs control signals to the supply conveyor 3, theintroduction conveyor 4, the drop conveyor 5, the discharge conveyor 6,the brush unit 7, the gripping unit 8, the affixing unit 9 and the tapefeeding unit 10. Further, this control unit 20 is connected to theoperating mode selection switch 30 and controls the driving of each ofthe conveyors 3 to 6 and each of the units 7 to 10 such that theyoperate in the operating mode that has been selected by the operatingmode selection switch 30. The operating modes are as has been mentionedabove.

Further, the control unit 20 receives a detection signal from the metaldetector 3 a and determines whether the products X are normal productsor abnormal products on the basis of this detection signal.Additionally, when one of the products X is an abnormal product, thecontrol unit 20 actuates and controls the air nozzle 3 b such that theair nozzle 3 b removes that product X to the side of the conveyancepath.

Next, an example of the operation of the strip-pack apparatus 100 willbe described.

First, when the manufactured products X are to be formed into the strippack SP, the operator selects the strip pack manufacturing mode with theoperating mode selection switch 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6,the products X that have been manufactured by the combination weighingdevice W and the bag making and packaging machine P on the upstream sideand have been carried into the strip-pack apparatus 100 undergoinspection by the metal detector 3 a while being conveyed in thedirection of arrow D1 by the supply conveyor 3 above. When it isdetermined that the products X are normal products, the products X areconveyed as they are in the direction of arrow D1, and when it isdetermined that the products X are abnormal products, the air nozzle 3 bis actuated and the products X are removed to the side of the conveyancepath.

Next, the products X that have been determined to be normal products andhave dropped from the supply conveyor 3 onto the introduction conveyor 4are conveyed to the gripping position in the direction of arrow D2 bythe introduction conveyor 4 and the drop conveyor 5, but the operationhereinafter is the same as the operation in the first embodiment, sodescription thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, when the manufactured products X are to be cartoned,the operator selects the product passing mode with the operating modeselection switch 30. In this case, the control unit 20 stops the drivingof all of the conveyors 5 and 6 and the units 7 to 10 and controls theintroduction conveyor 4 such that the introduction conveyor 4 conveysthe products X in the direction of arrow D4. Consequently, when theproducts X that have been supplied from the upstream side are determinedto be normal products by the metal detector 3 a, the products X areconveyed in the direction of arrow D1, thereafter drop onto theintroduction conveyor 4, and are conveyed by this introduction conveyor4 in the direction of arrow D4, so the products X are delivered as theyare, without being formed into the strip pack SP, from the introductionconveyor 4 to the cartoning machine C on the downstream side.Additionally, when the products X are determined to be abnormalproducts, the air nozzle 3 b is actuated and the products X are removedto the side of the conveyance path.

Further, when inspection by the metal detector 3 a is stopped and theair nozzle 3 b is not actuated, the strip-pack apparatus 100 can be madeto function as simple conveying means that delivers the products X thathave been supplied from the bag making and packaging machine P on theupstream side to the cartoning machine C on the downstream side.

Because the strip-pack apparatus is configured as described above,first, when the strip pack manufacturing mode is selected by theoperating mode selection switch 30 in order to form the manufacturedproducts X into the strip pack SP, the driving of the supply conveyor 3,the gripping unit 8 and the affixing unit 9 is controlled by the controlunit 20, and the primary operation of the strip-pack apparatus 1 and 100is executed. As a result, the products X that have been supplied fromthe upstream side are conveyed to the gripping position and the strippack SP is efficiently manufactured. On the other hand, when the productpassing mode is selected in order to carton the manufactured products X,the products X that have been supplied from the upstream side areconveyed as they are to the downstream side without being conveyed tothe gripping position, so the strip-pack apparatus 1 and 100 function asapparatus that deliver the products X that have been received from theupstream side as they are to the cartoning machine C. In this manner,there are realized the strip-pack apparatus 1 and 100 that haveexcellent versatility and are capable of appropriately switching betweenforming and not forming the products X that have been supplied from theupstream side into the strip pack depending on a request on thedownstream side.

In that case, as in the first embodiment, the auxiliary conveyor 3 c canbe detachably disposed consecutively with the downstream side of thesupply conveyor 3 or can be given a flip-up configuration. For thatreason, when the product passing mode has been selected as the operatingmode, the products X that have been supplied from the upstream side canbe reliably conveyed to the downstream side by the auxiliary conveyor 3c with this configuration without being conveyed to the grippingposition. Additionally, when the strip pack manufacturing mode has beenselected as the operating mode, it suffices to remove or flip up thisauxiliary conveyor 3 c.

In the second embodiment, the introduction conveyor 4 that is capable ofbeing driven in a direction where it is capable of supplying theproducts X to the gripping position or a direction where it is capableof carrying the products X to the downstream side without supplying theproducts X to the gripping position is disposed on the downstream sideand below the supply conveyor 3. Therefore, by controlling thisintroduction conveyor 4, it becomes possible to easily switch betweenwhen the strip pack manufacturing mode has been selected and when theproduct passing mode has been selected as the operating mode.

It will be noted that the present invention is not limited to thepreceding embodiments that have been specifically described and variouschanges to the described embodiments may be made within the spirits ofthe present invention.

For example, in the first embodiment, the auxiliary conveyor 3 c iscapable of being disposed between the supply conveyor 3 and thecartoning machine C, but instead of this, the cartoning machine C mayalso be configured so as to be movable such that it moves close to thedownstream end portion of the supply conveyor 3.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the present invention, there isrealized a strip-pack apparatus that has excellent versatility and iscapable of appropriately switching between forming and not formingproducts into a strip pack depending on circumstances on a downstreamside while ensuring the efficient manufacture of a strip pack whereplural products are affixed to a strip. That is, the present inventionis widely suited to the technical field of strip packs.

1. A strip-pack apparatus positioned between an upstream mechanism and adownstream mechanism and adapted to process products and to manufacturea strip pack where the products are affixed to a strip member, thestrip-pack apparatus comprising: a moving mechanism configured andarranged to selectively move the products that have been supplied fromthe upstream mechanism to an affixing position or the downstreammechanism; an affixing mechanism configured and arranged to affix theproducts moved to the affixing position to the strip member; anoperating mode selecting unit configured and arranged to receive aselection input for an operating mode between a strip pack manufacturingmode in which the moving mechanism moves the products to the affixingposition and a product passing mode in which the moving mechanism movesthe products to the downstream mechanism without moving the products tothe affixing position; and a control unit configured to controloperations of the moving mechanism and the affixing mechanism accordingto the operating mode that has been selected via the operating modeselecting unit.
 2. The strip-pack apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the moving mechanism includes a conveying unit configured andarranged to convey the products that have been supplied from theupstream mechanism to a gripping position, and a gripping unitconfigured and arranged to grip the products in the gripping positionand to move the products to the affixing position.
 3. The strip-packapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism includes afirst conveying part configured and arranged to convey the products thathave been supplied from the upstream mechanism to a branching position,a second conveying part configured and arranged to convey the productsfrom the branching position toward the affixing position, and a thirdconveying part configured and arranged to convey the products from thebranching position toward the downstream mechanism, and the control unitis configured to control operations of the first conveying part, thesecond conveying part and the third conveying part such that, when theproduct passing mode has been selected via the operating mode selectingunit, the products are moved to the downstream mechanism without beingmoved to the affixing position.
 4. The strip-pack apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the third conveying part is detachably or movablyconnected to the first conveying part in the branching position.
 5. Thestrip-pack apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving mechanismincludes a conveying unit configured and arranged to convey the productsselectively in a first direction or a second direction different fromthe first direction, and the control unit is configured to drive theconveying unit in the first direction to move the products toward theaffixing position when the strip pack manufacturing mode has beenselected via the operating mode selecting unit and to drive theconveying unit in the second direction to move the products toward thedownstream mechanism when the product passing mode has been selected viathe operating mode selecting unit.